Mob-themed NRA spot attacks Bloomberg, boosts McDonnell

By Ben Smith

10/07/09 08:59 AM EDT

A new ad kicking off the National Rifle Association's half-million dollar campaign in Virginia stars a Sopranos-style mobster in the service of New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, strongly suggesting that Virginia voters oppose Bob McDonnell.

"When Mayor Bloomberg got down here, your guy, Bob McDonnell, kicked him out of Virginia, and it was very disrespectful," says the character. "When you vote I strongly suggest you forget about your freedoms and your Mr. Second Amendment Bob McDonnell."

McDonnell fought Bloomberg's effort to shut down Virginia gun dealers who sold guns to undercover investigators working for the City of New York who bought the guns in violation of existing regulations.

Bloomberg has also underwritten an ad citing the Virginia Tech massacre and attacking McDonnell for failing to support stricter gun regulations.